Frequently Asked Questions
Why use a downsizing company?
Many clients turn to Stress Free Solutions (SFS) for assistance with downsizing because they realize garage sales are time consuming and exhausting. Selling items online might pose safety risks in relying on strangers coming to a loved ones home to purchase items.
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By partnering with SFS, our team will provide logistical support to help you through this emotionally and physically draining process. Our crew members will help you sort and pack (room-by-room/item-by-item) and remove unwanted items for auction/donation/disposal in a timely and sensitive manner.
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When should I call to start the process?
ASAP! The sooner we get started sorting things and taking them where they need to go, the better. Many often wait until injury or illness dictates a move. Sorting and decision-making takes time. Clients can reduce the added stress of this process by allowing as much time as possible by not waiting until they're under a house listing or health relocation deadline to begin their project.
Do you perform the actual physical labor?
Yes! You can rest easy knowing that our team of professionally-trained and trusted members will be the only people handling your valued possessions. Most other companies will outsource the task of the physical labor to another moving company or hourly labor. We provide peace of mind by providing a consistent team that works with you side by side throughout the entire process.
I am not moving, but I really need my home/garage decluttered. Do you do that?
Yes! Everyone’s situation is a little different. You may want more space because your loved one is now in a wheelchair and can not push through the hallways. Or a hospital bed needs to go in the home and there is nowhere for it to go. You may also realize you haven’t parked in your garage in 3 years and would really like to. We can help!
What does a "Move Manager" do?
The Move Manager guides you through the entire process helping you with all aspects of your move. During the planning process, your Move Manager can measure rooms and furniture and utilize floor plans to ensure that your items will fit in your new home safely and functionally. They will oversee all aspects of your move, from the sorting and downsizing to the crew that will be moving your belongings. Your Move Manager will be your trusted point of contact from the start until you are settled in your new home.
How do you determine where my unwanted items go?
Stress Free Solutions goes through multiple steps to find “homes” for the items you do not wish to keep. During the sorting process, we will tag your furniture/boxes with your client code and destination: “Auction” or “Donation.” Items will be tagged or packed in the respective box, based on what we know will sell at UsedTwo's auction or what our donation vendors will or will not accept. If an item is damaged, unsanitary or cannot be sold/donated, it will be marked for disposal at the beginning of the process.
We strive to send as many sellable items to the UsedTwo warehouse to be posted on their online web-based auction platform. The UsedTwo auction team reviews each truckload, item by item, box by box to determine whether or not the item(s) are salable. Items not deemed salable by the UsedTwo team or remaining unsold despite being posted online for auction are then taken to donation sources. If items are rejected by our donation partners, then they are disposed of.
Why would Auction or Donation reject my items?
There is a large volume of furniture, household items and previous era collectible items flooding the auction/donation marketplaces. These items include fine china, china cabinets, entertainment centers, figurines, upholstered furniture, etc. Simultaneously, there is a significant lack of buyers for certain items based on economic and generational factors. Donation vendors are becoming more particular and limited in what they will take, because they are over-saturated with inventory and sales are diminishing. We realize this is difficult to hear since your furniture and items cost a significant amount of money when they were purchased or perhaps have been handed down for generations within your family.
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How does auction pricing work? Can I set a minimum price for the items I want sold?
The UsedTwo online platform is beneficial because it attracts bidders from a larger geographic spectrum than conventional on-site auctions. However, each auction is unpredictable and subject to an undetermined number of attendees participating in each sale. Because of this, Stress Free Solutions and UsedTwo cannot suggest or guarantee auction price parameters, nor guarantee any pricing or sale of each client’s items. To get a sense of bid increments, visit usedtwo.hibid.com. Check out any Current Auctions and select "Bid Increments" (under Terms and Conditions) or "Past Auctions" to get a sense of final sales prices realized for each item.
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How much will I earn for the sale of my items?
Clients are entitled to 60% of the proceeds from each item sold. Revenue from each auction is received by SFS throughout each month and processed accordingly. Client commission checks from SFS are sent out the first week of each month with a report detailing the items sold and amount total. A report of items not sold via the UsedTwo auction (if applicable) will be sent along with a donation slip. Depending on the volume of items being processed in the UsedTwo warehouse and/or the duration of your downsizing project, the auction process may take up to 90 days (or more) for completion. All client accounts with SFS must be in good standing for clients to receive commission checks.
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